Speeding Drunk Driver kills 2 on 405 freeway in Hawthorne

By
Catherine Lerer
|June 30, 2013

Two people are dead after a drunk driver slammed into a big rig on the 405 Freeway in Hawthorne Saturday.

The accident happened about 2:51 a.m. on the southbound 405. Mario Arriola, a 30-year-old Gardena resident, was driving a 2008 Toyota. Arriola struck a big rig, then a Volvo struck the disabled Toyota.

Two passengers in the Toyota, 25-year-old Stefanie Ramirez of Compton, and 25-year-old Rene Romero of Compton, were declared dead at the scene of the accident. The driver of the Volvo reportedly suffered minor injuries.

According to the CHP, the Toyota driver was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. The CHP is reporting that the crash was a result of Arriola's intoxication and high rate of speed.

If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death as the result of an accident, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer. McGee, Lerer & Associates is a husband and wife team of accident attorneys with almost 40 years of combined experience. We specialize in serious injury and
wrongful death cases.

In this particular accident, the families of the two deceased passengers would certainly have a claim against the driver of the Toyota. It is unlikely he had enough insurance coverage to cover the value of their wrongful death claims. The families would also be able to make underinsured motorist claims, if the decedents had underinsured motorist coverage on their own vehicles.

They could possibly have a claim against the Volvo driver, if there is evidence that the driver of the Volvo should have been able to avoid striking the disabled Toyota. The Volvo driver has a claim against the Toyota driver.

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